The influence of surface modification on the morphological characteristics and microhardness of HVG steel

Abstract

During the experiment, carried out in two stages, a thin-film coating of molybdenum is obtained on substrates made of steel grade HVG. The first stage included preliminary ion implantation of molybdenum. The second stage is the production of a thin-film molybdenum coating by balanced magnetron sputtering. During the study using scanning electron microscopy, microphotographs are obtained that visually confirmed the uniformity and homogeneity of the thin-film coating. The values of average surface roughness Sa is obtained by probe microscopy suggest that it decreases after applying a thin-film coating. Using the energy dispersive analysis method, the mass concentration of molybdenum on the surface of the modified tool steel was determined, which is 92,4 %. Experimental modes of modification of KhVG steel with a thin-film coating have been obtained, which have a significant effect on the average roughness and microhardness of its surface. It has been shown that the experimental modes used in the work make it possible to obtain a strengthening of the surface of HVG steel after applying a thin-film coating of molybdenum, with preliminary ion implantation several times. The adhesion force between the thin-film coating and the HVG steel substrate is determined. High adhesion values obtained using the method proposed by Gerald Frankel from Ohio State University indicate good quality of the applied coating. All of the above indicates the prospects of using the above-mentioned methodology in the mechanical engineering industry.

Keywords

• ion implantation
• balanced magnetron sputtering
• thin film coatings
• molybdenum
• scanning electron microscopy
• energy dispersive analysis
• probe microscopy
• microhardness